WHEN AKSHARA WOKE UP, Fari was sitting on the side of her mat crying. Akshara went to sit beside her and put her arm around the girl. Even if she didn’t much like this girl, she could still provide comfort to her.
“Why are you crying?”
“My—my mother just came down to say goodbye to me. She’s heading back to Yaras, but I’m staying here without her.”
“I’ve never known my mother, so consider yourself lucky that you at least have her. Even if she will be far away from you,” Akshara said.
“You don’t understand. She’s never coming back to Aransia. I’m staying here as a temple girl, like you.”
“Don’t you need to see a healer and get your heart taken care of?” Akshara asked.
“That was a lie. I’m actually fine this way—maybe a little weak, and it’s hard for me to breathe sometimes, but I mana
